The U.S. Seventh Air Force will move forward with a second phase of its “Super Squadron” experiment at Osan Air Base, significantly expanding the scale and operational complexity of the test designed to evaluate enhanced combat readiness and airpower generation in the Indo-Pacific region. Approved by Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin, this second phase will introduce another full squadron of 31 F-16 Fighting Falcons and around 1,000 Airmen, further consolidating U.S. fighter capabilities on the Korean Peninsula.
The announcement marks a pivotal evolution in the U.S. Air Force’s ongoing efforts to reshape its force posture in East Asia, amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and a growing emphasis on distributed operations and combat agility. Scheduled to commence in October 2025, the second phase will build on the insights gained during the first iteration of the test, which began in October 2024 and is currently ongoing.
The initial stage of the “Super Squadron” test centered on the 36th Fighter Squadron, based at Osan Air Base. Traditionally composed of 22 F-16s, the squadron was augmented by nine additional aircraft, transferred from the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons at Kunsan Air Base. This temporary increase in aircraft strength was supported by the deployment of approximately 150 Airmen, including pilots, maintenance personnel, and support staff.
The concept behind the Super Squadron was straightforward yet ambitious: could consolidating more aircraft under a single operational squadron enhance sortie generation, logistical efficiency, and overall combat readiness, especially in a high-tempo environment like the Korean Peninsula? The Seventh Air Force aimed to answer that question through real-world testing rather than simulations or limited exercises.
Lt. Gen. David Iverson, commander of Seventh Air Force, emphasized the strategic intent behind the project. “This Super Squadron effort demonstrates our steadfast focus on readiness and combat capability to achieve U.S. national security objectives,” Iverson said. “We’re evaluating every aspect—maintenance, manpower, logistics—to see if we can build a more lethal and responsive force.”
Now, with nearly half a year of collected data, Seventh Air Force officials believe they have a clearer picture of the test’s potential—and its challenges. The results have been positive enough to merit not just a continuation, but a significant expansion of the concept.
“The past months of data reveal that we’re on the right track and the consolidated, larger unit has shown some increases in readiness and combat capability, while also exposing some challenges,” Iverson noted. “With this success we’re now expanding the scope, by consolidating the F-16s in Seventh Air Force at Osan, to further determine if the Super Squadron construct is the right path for future airpower generation here in Korea.”
The second phase will involve a far more complex operation: the transfer of an entire squadron’s worth of assets—31 F-16s and about 1,000 Airmen—from Kunsan to Osan. This not only increases the scale of the operation by more than threefold, but also places a heavier logistical and organizational burden on the host base, which will now support a larger volume of aircraft and personnel.
While the identity of the second squadron has yet to be officially confirmed, it is widely expected that the aircraft and personnel will come from either the 35th or 80th Fighter Squadron, both currently assigned to Kunsan’s 8th Fighter Wing.
Though the realignment of aircraft and personnel is classified as a temporary shift, the implications for Kunsan AB are considerable. The base will see most of its operational Vipers reassigned to Osan, reducing its active aircraft count significantly—at least for the duration of the experiment.
However, Air Force leaders stress that Kunsan will continue to play a vital role in the U.S.-ROK security architecture. According to service officials, the 8th Fighter Wing will remain a crucial staging ground for rotational forces and exercises, while maintaining essential flightline capabilities, war reserve materials, and munitions infrastructure.
“We acknowledge this is a major shift in how we operate here at Kunsan,” said Col. Peter Kasarskis, 8th FW commander. “We’ll meet this change with the same warfighter mindset the Wolf Pack has maintained through our history, and strengthen our ability to accept follow-on forces, defend the base and take the fight north.”
The Seventh Air Force echoed this sentiment, assuring allies and observers that the redistribution of assets will not impact its ability to deter aggression or defend South Korea. “The Super Squadron test has no impact on Seventh Air Force’s ability to employ airpower to deter aggression and defend the Republic of Korea against any threat,” the command reiterated in a press release.
